Trump, Mamdani Strike Conciliatory Tone After ‘Productive’ White House Meeting

United States President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani set aside years of political hostility on Friday as both men emerged from a meeting at the White House pledging to work together for the good of America’s largest city.

Speaking to reporters after the Oval Office session, Trump commended Mamdani’s “incredible” victory in the New York mayoral election, praising his campaign’s strong focus on tackling the high cost of living.

The president, who had previously labelled the progressive lawmaker a “jihadist” and questioned his citizenship, said their conversation marked a positive turning point.

“We’ve just had a great, really productive meeting,” Trump said. “We both want this city we love to do very well. He ran an incredible race and won easily.”

Mamdani, who will become the first Muslim mayor in New York City’s history, described the meeting as cordial and centred on shared concerns, notably rent, utilities, and rising grocery prices, issues, he said are placing immense pressure on working families.

“It was a productive meeting grounded in our mutual admiration for New York City,” he said.

“We discussed how to address affordability and support the people who make this city home.”

Despite Friday’s conciliatory tone, the two men share deep ideological differences.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist, is known for advocating immigrant rights and opposing Trump’s past proposals, including the controversial Muslim travel ban.

Yet he insisted that political disagreements would not hinder cooperation.

“The president and I are very clear about our differences. But today’s meeting focused on our shared purpose—serving New Yorkers,” Mamdani said.

“That’s what matters for the 8.5 million people facing a cost-of-living crisis, with one in four living in poverty.”

He referenced a video he posted after the 2024 election, showing him speaking with Trump supporters about affordability and foreign policy.

Those conversations, he said, affirmed the possibility of bipartisan consensus on issues such as ending long-term military engagements and lowering household costs.

With polls showing widespread economic anxiety across the United States, Trump has in recent weeks applauded Mamdani’s affordability agenda, an issue analysts say could shape both men’s political trajectories in the coming months.

Mamdani is expected to assume office with a mandate to tackle New York’s escalating living costs, while the president’s outreach to the incoming mayor signals an attempt to calm tensions as both leaders prepare for a challenging year ahead.

Kwara Church Attack: Police, DSS Arrest Suspected Bandits’ Armourer, Logistics Suppliers

Kwara State has stepped up its security operations following Tuesday’s assault on the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Isegun, Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area, where two people were killed and several worshippers, including the pastor, were abducted.

In a statement issued by Ibraheem Abdullateef, Senior Special Assistant on Communications to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, security agencies have recorded major breakthroughs in the ongoing crackdown on criminal networks across the state.

According to the statement, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a number of suspects accused of aiding bandit activities.

Among those in custody is a man from Makurdi, Benue State, who allegedly confessed to repairing weapons for criminal gangs operating within Kwara’s forest areas.

Security operatives also apprehended several individuals said to be supplying food, fuel, drugs and other essential materials to the bandits in their hideouts, activities authorities say have enabled the criminals to sustain their operations.

At Friday’s Security Council meeting, Governor AbdulRazaq and heads of security agencies reviewed updates on the Eruku church attack.

The session observed a minute of silence in honour of the victims as the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to public safety.

The council thereafter approved joint security patrols across the state, a move aimed at strengthening surveillance and forestalling further attacks ahead of the festive season.

The Eruku incident has again drawn attention to rising insecurity in Nigeria’s north-central region.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump made claims of targeted attacks on Christians in Nigeria, prompting the Federal Government to dismiss the allegations as inaccurate.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu subsequently dispatched a delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to the United States to engage lawmakers and clarify Nigeria’s security efforts.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, suspected bandits have abducted four rice farmers in Bokungi village, Edu Local Government Area.

Witnesses said the gunmen ambushed the farmers during harvest and whisked them away into the bush.

State authorities say intensified operations are ongoing to track the perpetrators and rescue the abducted victims.

Hurricane Melissa: CARICOM Reaffirms Support for Jamaica, Haiti

CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett, has restated the Community’s solidarity with Jamaica and Haiti following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, saying the disaster reinforces the urgent need to strengthen regional resilience against climate change.

Dr Barnett made the remarks at the opening of the 61st Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), where she also highlighted the importance of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) in supporting sustainable growth amid recurring climate shocks.

She expressed sympathy to the Governments and people of Jamaica and Haiti over the loss of lives and widespread damage caused by the storm.

She commended the response of regional bodies, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), private sector groups and other regional partners.

The Secretary-General also referenced the recent visit of four CARICOM Heads of Government to Jamaica as a strong demonstration of regional unity and a signal of continued support.

“The experience leaves us in no doubt about the urgency of addressing the existential threats posed by climate change and the need to redouble our efforts to build resilience and foster sustainable development across our Region,” she said.

“Strengthening our trade and economic performance is a critical part of this, and COTED must continue to play its important role in this regard.”

Chairing the meeting, Belize’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Hon. Marconi Leal, noted that the Region was dealing with complex global and domestic challenges that continue to test the resilience of individual Member States.

He said Hurricane Melissa further exposed the Caribbean’s vulnerability to climate threats, stressing the need for deeper cooperation and coordinated recovery efforts.

Minister Leal said COTED would deliberate on critical issues, including advancing the free movement of CARICOM nationals, implementing the Community’s Industrial Policy and Strategy 2035, and support measures under Article 164 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

The 61st Regular Meeting of COTED reaffirmed CARICOM’s commitment to strengthening regional trade, deepening economic integration and advancing sustainable development across the Community.